MYSTERY surrounds the reasons for an investigation into the long-serving and well respected ex-minister of a Thorpe village parish.

The Bishop of Guildford is looking into allegations made by parishioners about Father Michael Hereward-Rothwell, understood to relate to his ministerial duties.

He was minister of St Mary's Church in Thorpe for more than two decades before retiring due to ill health in autumn 2009.

A meeting was due to be held in the Rutherwyke Rooms behind the church on September 2, but it had to be moved into the main body of the church after more than 100 people turned up.

The meeting was chaired by the ex-Bishop of Coventry and also attended by the Archdeacon of Dorking.

Disillusioned parishioners claimed the allegations had divided the village, with some backing Father Hereward-Rothwell and others claiming he had brought the church into disrepute.

The exact details of the allegations cannot be revealed for legal reasons, but one parishioner said: "There are discrepancies that have now come to light, claims that are not valid and statements that are not valid - that is all I can say."

A spokesman for the Diocese of Guildford said they did not yet have a "definitive list" of the allegations made.

He added: "Father Hereward-Rothwell served for 24 years as vicar of Thorpe, in the Diocese of Guildford, and was loved by many in the parish.

"Since then allegations have been made that some of what he has claimed about himself over the years was not true.

"The Bishop of Guildford takes this very seriously and a process has begun to deal with the implications in an appropriate way."

Stephen Sizer, vicar of Christ Church, Virginia Water, said he was saddened by the unexpected turn of events surrounding a respected peer.

He added: "It's really sad when things like this happen. Michael was there a long time and was highly respected.

"He was an international minister, with a ministry beyond the parish, I think he had close links with the Vatican too. I don't know of any cause for concern at all."

A long-standing member of St Mary’s Parish Council said: "Father Michael’s 24 years of ministry transformed the physical and spiritual fabric of St Mary’s in a way which we will never forget.

"It is so unfortunate that the allegations of a disaffected few are now hurting him both physically and spiritually. I cannot understand what anyone thinks they can gain from harming him."

The church has been in a period of vacancy since Father Hereward-Rothwell's retirement. Father Damian Miles has been appointed as a replacement.

Among his many undertakings in the village, the ex-minister blessed the iconic Stealth rollercoaster when it opened at Thorpe Park in 2006.